US President Donald Trump has formally approved a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that grants the country the right to enrich uranium. According to the Wall Street Journal, the arrangement, known as the '123 Agreement,' allows Riyadh to enrich uranium without the full-scope IAEA inspections designed to prevent nuclear proliferation.
The agreement was negotiated and finalized in October 2025, but Trump gave his final approval on July 18, 2026. According to Reuters, the Trump administration is expected to submit the deal to Congress for review in the coming days.
The most controversial aspect of the arrangement is that it does not require the Additional Protocol, which grants IAEA inspectors broad access to nuclear facilities and facilitates the detection of clandestine nuclear activities. Instead, it envisions a bilateral inspection mechanism between the US and Saudi Arabia.
Fundamental Shift in US Policy
This step marks a significant departure from Washington's long-standing 'gold standard' policy on civilian nuclear cooperation. As CNN recalls, the United Arab Emirates permanently renounced uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing rights in its 2009 nuclear deal with the US.
Crown Prince's Statement and Risks
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in 2018 that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia would follow suit. Experts warn that this rhetoric, combined with the absence of IAEA Additional Protocol inspections, could give Riyadh the opportunity to develop a covert weapons program.
Global Proliferation Concerns
Analysts say that the US providing Saudi Arabia with a nuclear deal without standard safeguards could signal to other nuclear supplier states like Russia and China to make similar arrangements for their own allies. This could effectively render the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty inoperative.
Opposition Expected in Congress
Submitting the deal to Congress will trigger a mandatory review process under US law. The Jerusalem Post highlighted that the agreement lacks safeguards. This is likely to increase opposition from anti-nuclear proliferation advocates and lawmakers who view the Additional Protocol as a minimum standard.
Same Day as Iran Strikes
Trump's approval came on the same day that US forces conducted airstrikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive night over its nuclear program and attacks on commercial ships. This highlights the contradiction of Washington targeting Iran's enrichment activities while granting similar rights to Saudi Arabia.
